Display apparatus having extended connecting lines

ABSTRACT

A display apparatus includes a substrate including a display area and a peripheral area at least partially surrounding the display area. A corner of an edge of the display area is curved. The peripheral area includes a pad area. A data line is disposed in the display area. A first connecting line is disposed in the display area and is connected to the data line to transmit a signal from the pad area to the data line. The first connecting line includes a first portion extending tram the edge in a direction away from the peripheral area and a second portion bent with respect to the first portion and extending towards the corner.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of and priority to Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2019-0066878, filed on Jun. 5, 2019, in the KoreanIntellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a display apparatus and, morespecifically, to a display apparatus having extended connecting lines.

DISCUSSION OF THE RELATED ART

Display apparatuses have evolved so as to be thin, relatively lightweight, and to consume less power. Additionally, display apparatuseshave begun to feature a larger viewing area with less surrounding spacein which no image is displayed. As this surrounding space has decreased,physical button, etc. are removed from the front surface of the displayapparatus.

SUMMARY

According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, adisplay apparatus includes a substrate including a display area and aperipheral area outside of the display area. A corner of an edge of thedisplay area includes a round shape, and the peripheral area includes apad area. A data line is arranged in the display area. A firstconnecting line is arranged in the display area and connects to the dataline to transmit a signal from the pad area to the data line. Thedisplay area includes a dummy area adjacent to a boundary with theperipheral area. The first connecting line includes a first portionextending from the edge in a direction away from the peripheral area anda second portion bent from the first portion and extending towards thecorner. The second portion is connected to the data line in the dummyarea located at the corner.

In the first connecting line, the first portion and the second portionmay extend in a direction inclined with respect to a first direction inwhich the data line extends by a certain angle.

The first portion and the second portion of the first connecting linemay extend in a zigzag shape.

The first portion and the second portion of the first connecting linemay extend linearly.

The data line and the first connecting line may be on different layersfrom each other.

The first connecting line may further include a third portion extendingin a first direction in which the data line extends and/or a fourthportion extending in a second direction perpendicular to the firstdirection.

The display apparatus may further include a second connecting linearranged in the peripheral area and including one end connected to thefirst portion of the first connecting line and another end located inthe pad area.

According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, adisplay apparatus includes a substrate including a display area and aperipheral area outside of the display area. A corner of an edge of thedisplay area includes a round shape. The peripheral area includes a padarea. A plurality of scan lines is arranged in the display area and eachof the scan lines extends in a first direction, A plurality of firstdata lines is arranged in the display area and each of the first datalines extends in a second direction perpendicular to the firstdirection. A plurality of first connecting lines is arranged in thedisplay area and is connected to the plurality of first data lines so asto transmit a signal from the pad area to the plurality of first datalines. Each of the plurality of first connecting lines includes firstportion extending from the edge in a direction away from the peripheralarea and a second portion bent from the first portion and extendingtowards the corner. Each of the first portion and the second portionalternates between a first sub-portion extending parallel to at leastone of the plurality of scan lines and a second sub-portion extendingparallel to at least one of the plurality of first data lines.

In each of the plurality of first connecting lines, the first portionand the second portion may extend in a direction inclined with respectto the first direction by a certain angle while alternating between thefirst sub-portion and the second sub-portion.

The plurality of first connecting lines may be on a different layer fromthe plurality of scan lines.

The first sub-portion may at least partially overlap the at least onescan line.

The plurality of first connecting lines may be on a different layer fromthe plurality of first data lines.

The second sub-portion may at least partially overlap the at least onefirst data line.

The first sub-portion may include a length that is ii times (where n isa positive integer) as much as a first length corresponding to adistance between two adjacent first data lines, and the secondsub-portion may include a length that is m times (where m is a positiveinteger) as much as a second length corresponding to a distance betweentwo adjacent scan lines.

The first sub-portions of adjacent first connecting lines may be spacedapart from each other by a length that is n times (where n is a positiveinteger) as much as a second length corresponding to a distance betweentwo adjacent scan lines, and the second sub-portions of the adjacentfirst connecting lines may be spaced apart from each other by a lengththat is m times (where in is a positive integer) as much as a firstlength corresponding to a distance between two adjacent first datalines.

Each of the plurality of first connecting lines may further include athird portion connected to the first portion and extending linearly inthe first direction and a fourth portion connected to the second portionand extending linearly in the first direction.

Each of the plurality of first connecting lines may further include afifth portion located between the first portion and the second portionand extending linearly in the first direction.

The display area may include a dummy area adjacent to a boundary withthe peripheral area. The second portion may be connected to one of theplurality of first data lines in the dummy area located at the corner.

The display apparatus may further include a second connecting linearranged in the peripheral area and including one end connected to thefirst portion of each of the plurality of first connecting lines and theother end located in the pad area.

The display apparatus may further include a plurality of second datalines arranged in the display area and each of which extending in thesecond direction. A third connecting line may be arranged in theperipheral area and may include one end connected to one of theplurality of second data lines and another end located in the pad area.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete appreciation of the present disclosure and many of theattendant aspects thereof will be more apparent from the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically illustrating an example of a displaypanel according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram schematically illustrating region A ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram schematically illustrating region B ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram schematically illustrating region C ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a plan view partially enlarging region C of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are equivalent circuit diagrams illustrating one pixelarranged in a display panel according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a plan view schematically illustrating an example of a displaypanel according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a plan view schematically illustrating an example of region Eof FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a plan view schematically illustrating an example of region Fof FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged plan view of region E′ of FIG. 8;

FIG. 1.1 illustrates an example in which a pixel electrode and ashielding member are arranged on first connecting lines according to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I′ of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a plan view schematically illustrating an example of a sixtharea of FIG. 7;

FIG. 14 is a plan view schematically illustrating an example of a sixtharea of FIG. 7;

FIGS. 15A and 15B are plan views illustrating arrangement of the firstconnecting line according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 16 is a plan view illustrating arrangement of the first connectingline according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 17 is a plan view illustrating shapes of the first connecting lineaccording to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 18 is a plan view illustrating shapes of the first connecting lineaccording to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 19 is a diagram schematically illustrating a second connecting lineaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 20 illustrates an example of a display panel including the firstconnecting line according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 21 is a diagram schematically enlarging a portion of FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a display apparatus including a displaypanel according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 23A and 23B are respective cross-sectional views taken along lineV-V′ of FIG. 22;

FIGS. 24A to 24D are cross-sectional views schematically illustrating adisplay panel according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure; and

FIGS. 25A to 25D are cross-sectional views schematically illustrating adisplay panel according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of whichare illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like referencenumerals may refer to like elements throughout the drawings anddisclosure.

Such terms as “first” and “second” are not used for limitation ofmeaning but are used to distinguish one element from another.

The singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” used herein are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise.

It will be understood that the terms “comprise”, “comprising”,‘include’, and/or “including”, when used herein, specify the presence ofstated features or elements, but do not preclude the presence oraddition of one or more other features or elements.

In contrast, the term “consisting of”, when used herein, specify thepresence of stated features or elements and preclude the presence ofadditional features or elements.

It will be further understood that, when a layer, region, or element isreferred to as being “on” another layer, region, or element, it can bedirectly or indirectly on the other layer, region, or element. Forexample, for example, intervening layers, regions, or elements may bepresent.

Sizes of elements in the drawings may be exaggerated or reduced forconvenience of explanation. Thus, while the relative sizes and angles ofthe elements shown in the drawings may be indicative of at least oneexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, there may be otherexemplary embodiments of the present disclosure that have relative sizesand angles that are different from what is being shown.

When a wire is referred to as ‘extending in a first direction or asecond direction’, the wire not only may extend in a linear shape butmay extend in a zigzag or curved shape in the first direction or thesecond direction. Moreover, when it is said that a wire or elementextends in a particular direction, this means that the wire or elementextends primarily in that particular direction, e.g. that the wire orelement extends in the particular direction to a greater extent than anyother directions.

The phrase “in plan view” refers to a view of a target portion seen fromabove, and the phrase “in cross-sectional view” refers to a verticallycross-sectional view of a target portion seen from the side. The term“overlap” includes overlapping “in plan view” and “in cross-sectionalview” unless otherwise qualified.

Unless otherwise defined, a signal described herein is a generic termfor voltage or current.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference tothe accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals may refer tolike elements throughout the drawings and disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically illustrating an example of a displaypanel 10A according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram schematically illustratingregion A of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram schematicallyillustrating region B of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagramschematically illustrating region C of FIG. 2, and FIG. 5 is a plan viewpartially enlarging region C of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 1, the display panel 10A, according, to an exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure, has a display area DA fordisplaying an image and a peripheral area PA located outside of thedisplay area DA. No image is displayed in the peripheral area PA. Theperipheral area PA at least partially surrounds the display area. Asingle substrate 100A included in the display panel 10A may include boththe display area DA and the peripheral area PA.

Edges of the display area DA may form right angles. As illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2, a first corner CN1 of the edge of the display area DA mayhave a round shape. Specifically, the display area DA may include afirst edge E1 and a second edge E2 facing each other and a third edge E3and a fourth edge E4 located between the first edge E1 and the secondedge E2 and facing each other. A pad area PADA is adjacent to the fourthedge E4 from among the first to fourth edges E1 to E4. In this regard,the first corner CN1 having a round shape, connects the first edge E1 tothe fourth edge E4. In addition to the first corner CN1, a second cornerCN2 at the edge of the display area DA may also have a round shape. Thesecond corner CN2 connects the second edge E2 to the fourth edge E4. Notonly the edge but also another portion of the display area DA may have around shape.

A plurality of pixels PX and wires capable of applying electricalsignals to the plurality of pixels PX may be located in the display areaDA. The peripheral area. PA may be free of pixels PX.

Each of the plurality of pixels PX may include a display element and acircuit portion for driving the display element. For example, thedisplay element may be an organic light-emitting diode, and the circuitportion may include a plurality of transistors, a capacitor, etc.

Signal lines capable of applying electrical signals to the plurality ofpixels PX may include a plurality of scan lines SL, a plurality of datalines DL, etc. Each of the plurality of scan lines SL may extend in afirst direction D1, and each of the plurality of data lines DL mayextend in a second direction D2. The plurality of scan lines SL, forexample, may be arranged in a plurality of rows to transmit scan signalsto the pixels PX, and the plurality of data lines DL, for example, maybe arranged in a plurality of columns to transmit data signals to thepixels PX. Each of the plurality of pixels PX may be connected to acorresponding scan line SL from among the plurality of scan lines SL anda corresponding data line DL from among the plurality of data lines DL.

The peripheral area PA may at least partially surround the display areaDA. The peripheral area PA, which is an area having no pixels PXarranged therein, may include the pad area PADA, which is an area towhich various electronic devices or a printed circuit board, etc. areelectrically attached. A voltage line, etc. supplies power for drivingthe display element and may be located in the peripheral area PA. Aplurality of pads of the pad area PADA may be electrically connected toa film on which a data driver DL1 is arranged. FIG. 1 illustrates a chipon film (COF) method in which the data driver D_IC is arranged on thefilm electrically connected to pads arranged on the substrate 100A.According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the datadriver D_IC may be directly arranged on the substrate 100A by a chip onglass (COG) method or a chip on plastic (COP) method.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the peripheral area PA may include a bendingarea BA, and the bending area BA may be located between the pad areaPADA and the display area DA. In this case, a substrate may be bent inthe bending area BA to allow at least a portion of the pad area PADA tooverlap the display area DA. However, the pad area PADA does not coverthe display area DA, and a bending direction is set to allow the padarea PADA to be located behind the display area DA. Accordingly, a userviews the display area DA as occupying the majority of the display panelWA,

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram schematically illustrating region B ofFIG. 2 and shows a portion of the first corner CN1. As illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2, when a user using a display apparatus according to thepresent embodiment or an electronic apparatus including the displayapparatus observes the first corner CN1 in a usual use environment, thefirst corner CN1 is recognized as having a round: curved shape. However,in an environment in which wires having widths of a few micrometers ortens of micrometers are able to be observed by enlarging the firstcorner CN1, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the first corner CN1 may be shownas having a linear shape bent a plurality of times in the firstdirection D1 and the second direction D2, Although the first corner CN1is shown as having a linear shape bent a plurality of times asillustrated in FIG. 3 by enlarging the first corner CN1, the firstcorner CN1 is recognized as having a round/curved shape, in the usualuse environment, and thus, the first corner CN1 is described below ashaving a round shape.

The display area DA may include a dummy area DMA. The dummy area DMA maybe provided along the first to fourth edges E1 to E4 and the first andsecond corners CN1 and CN2 of the display area DA and may be adjacent toa boundary between the display area DA and the peripheral area PA. Aplurality of dummy pixels DPX may be arranged in the dummy area DMA. Thedummy pixels DPX may surround the pixels PX and may be located aroundoutermost pixels PX. In the dummy area DMA, one or more dummy pixels DPXmay be arranged on opposite ends of each pixel column and/or oppositeends of each pixel row. The number of dummy pixels DPX arranged in eachpixel column or each pixel row may be identical or different. FIG. 3illustrates some of the plurality of pixels PX and some of the pluralityof dummy pixels DPX in the display area DA for convenience. Although thedisplay area DA is described herein as including the dummy area DMA, thedummy area DMA may be a boundary area between the display area DA andthe peripheral area PA.

Connecting lines 200 a for transmitting electrical signals supplied frompads to signal lines connected to the pixels PX may be provided on thesubstrate 100A. For example, signal lines may be the data lines DL, andthe connecting lines 200 a may be arranged between the data lines DL andthe pad area. PADA to transmit data signals supplied from pads of thepad area PADA to the data lines DL.

The connecting lines 200 a may include first connecting lines 201,second connecting lines 203, and third connecting lines 205. The firstconnecting lines 201 may be arranged in the display area DA. The secondconnecting lines 203 and the third connecting lines 205 may be arrangedin the peripheral area PA. Some of the first connecting lines 201 may bearranged in the dummy area DMA. The second connecting lines 203 and thethird connecting lines 205 may be arranged in a fan-out area FOA locatedin the peripheral area PA. The fan-out area FOA may be located betweenthe pad area PADA and the display area DA.

The display area DA may be divided into a plurality of areas accordingto an extension direction of the First connecting lines 201. Forexample, the display area DA may include a first area S1 in which thefirst connecting lines 201 extend in the first direction D1, a secondarea S2 in which the first connecting lines 201 extend in the seconddirection D2, and a third area S3, which is the remaining area excludingthe first area S1 and the second area S2. The third area S3 may be anarea having no first connecting lines 201 arranged therein. The firstarea S1 and the second area S2 may each be plural and may each have atriangular shape. For example, the second area S2 located at the centermay be triangular. First areas S1 on both sides of the second area S2located at the center may each be in the shape of an inverted-triangle.Second areas S2 located outside the first areas S1 may have a righttriangle shape.

The first connecting lines 201 arranged on the left side of a centralline CL passing through a center of the display panel 10A in the firstdirection D1 and the first connecting lines 201 arranged on the rightside of the central line CL may be substantially and verticallysymmetric about the central line CL.

Referring to FIG. 4, the first connecting lines 201 may be located ondifferent layers from the scan lines SL and the data lines DL of thepixel PX. Each of the first connecting lines 201 may include a firstportion 201 a extending in the first direction D1 and a second portion201 b and a third portion 201 c respectively extending from oppositeends of the first portion 201 a in the second direction D2. The firstportion 201 a may connect the second portion 201 b to the third portion201 c, and the first to third portions 201 a to 201 c may be integrallyformed (formed as one continuous body). The first portion 201 a of eachof the first connecting lines 201 may extend parallel to the scan lineSL of the pixel PX and may partially overlap or be otherwise adjacent tothe scan line SL. The first portion 201 a of each of the firstconnecting lines 201 may extend parallel to the scan line SL arranged inone of a plurality of rows. The second portion 201 b and the thirdportion 201 c of each of the first connecting lines 201 may extendparallel to the data line DL and may partially overlap or be otherwiseadjacent to the data line DL. The second portion 201 b of each of thefirst connecting lines 201 may extend parallel to a first data line DL1arranged in one of a plurality of columns. The third portion 201 c ofeach of the first connect ng lines 201 may extend parallel to a seconddata line DL2 arranged in one column from among columns excluding thecolumn in which the second portion 201 b is arranged from among aplurality of columns.

One end of the first connecting line 201 may be connected to the firstdata line DL1, and the other end thereof may be connected to the secondconnecting line 203. For example, the second portion 201 b of the firstconnecting line 201 may be connected to the first data line DL1 in afirst contact portion CNT1 located in the dummy area DMA. The thirdportion 201 c of the first connecting line 201 may be connected to thesecond connecting line 203. According to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure, the second connecting line 203 may be a portionwhere the third portion 201 c of the first connecting line 201 extendsto the peripheral area PA via the dummy area DMA. One end of the secondconnecting line 203 may be connected to the other end of the firstconnecting line 201, and the other end of the second connecting line 203may be connected to a pad of the pad area PADA. One end of the thirdconnecting line 205 may be connected to the second data line DL2, andthe other end of the third connecting line 205 may be connected to a padof the pad area. PADA. One end of the third connecting line 205 may beconnected to the second data line DL2 in the dummy area DMA. The thirdconnecting line 205 may be a portion where the second data line DL2 thatis not connected to the first connecting line 201 extends to theperipheral area PA via the dummy area DMA.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, first pattern areas A1 defined between firstportions 201 a of adjacent first connecting, lines 201 may be located inthe first area S1. A first dummy pattern 202 a 1, a second dummy pattern202 c 1 and a third dummy pattern 202 d 1 may be arranged in the firstpattern area A1. The first dummy pattern 202 a 1 may be located on animaginary straight line extending from the second portion 201 b or thethird portion 201 c of the first connecting line 201. The first dummypattern 202 a 1 and the second dummy pattern 202 c 1 may be connected toeach other by a branch 202 b 1 protruding from the first dummy pattern202 a 1. The branch 202 b 1, which is a portion of the first dummypattern 202 a 1, may be a dummy pattern. The first dummy pattern 202 a1, the branch 202 b 1, and the second dummy pattern 202 c 1 may beintegrally formed.

Likewise, second pattern areas A2 defined between second portions 201 bor third portions 201 c of the adjacent first connecting lines 201 maybe located in the second area S2. A first dummy pattern 202 a 2, asecond dummy pattern 202 c 2, and a third dummy pattern 202 d 2 may bearranged in the second pattern area A2. The first dummy pattern 202 a 2may be located on an imaginary straight line extending from the firstportion 201 a of the first connecting line 201. The first dummy pattern202 a 2 and the second dummy pattern 202 c 2 may be connected to eachother by a branch 202 b 2 protruding from the first dummy pattern 202 a2 in the second direction D2, The branch 202 b 2, which is a portion ofthe first dummy pattern 202 a 2, may be a dummy pattern. The first dummypattern 202 a 2, the branch 202 b 2, and the second dummy pattern 202 c2 may be integrally formed.

The first connecting line 201, the first dummy pattern 202 a 1, thesecond dummy pattern 202 c 1, the third dummy pattern 202 d 1, and thebranch 202 b 1 of the first pattern area A1, the first dummy pattern 202a 2, the second dummy pattern 202 c 2 the third dummy pattern 202 d 2,and the branch 20212 of the second pattern area A2 may be arranged onthe same layer. The second dummy pattern 202 c 1 and the third dummypattern 202 d 1 of the first pattern area A1 and the second dummypattern 202 c 2 and the third dummy pattern 202 d 2 of the secondpattern area A2 may have similar shapes to each other.

Since reflection characteristics of light become similar in the firstarea S1 and the second area S2, due to the first pattern areas A1 andthe second pattern areas A2, it may be difficult to recognize a divisionbetween the first area S1 and the second area S2 according to anincidence angle of light.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are equivalent circuit diagrams illustrating one pixelPX arranged in a display panel according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 6A, the pixel PX includes a pixel circuit PC and anorganic light-emitting diode OLED, which is a display device connectedto the pixel circuit PC. The pixel circuit PC may include a firsttransistor T1, a second transistor T2, and a capacitor Cst. Each pixelPX may emit, for example, red, green, blue, or white light, from theorganic light-emitting diode OLED. The first transistor T1 and thesecond transistor 12 may be thin film transistors.

The second transistor 12, which is a switching transistor, may beconnected to the scan liars SL and the data line DL and may transmit adata signal input from the data line DL to the first transistor T1according to a switching voltage input to the scan line SL. Thecapacitor Cst may be connected to the second transistor T2 and a powervoltage line PL and may store a voltage corresponding to a differencebetween a voltage corresponding to the data signal received from thesecond transistor 12 and a first power voltage ELVDD, which is suppliedto the power voltage line PL The power voltage line PL may be spacedapart from the scan line SL or the data line DL in parallel.

The first transistor which is a driving transistor, may be connected tothe power voltage line PL and the capacitor Cst and may control adriving current Ioled flowing from the power voltage line PL through theorganic light-emitting diode OLED in response to a voltage value storedin the capacitor Cst. The organic light-emitting diode OLED may emitlight having a particular brightness according: to the driving currentIoled. An opposite electrode (for example, a cathode) of the organiclight-emitting diode OLED may receive a second power voltage ELVSS.

Although FIG. 6A illustrates the pixel circuit PC including twotransistors and one capacitor, embodiments are not limited thereto. Thenumber of transistors and the number of capacitors may be variouslychanged according to design of the pixel circuit PC.

Although FIG. 6B illustrates signal lines SL1, SL2, EL, and DL, aninitialization voltage line VIL, and the power voltage line PL providedfor each pixel PX, embodiments are not limited thereto. According to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, at least one of thesignal lines SL1, SL2, EL, and DL, the initialization voltage line VILand/or the power voltage line PL may be shared between neighboringpixels.

The signal lines include a first scan line SL1 transmitting a first scansignal GW, a second scan line SL2 transmitting a second scan signal G1,an emission control line EL transmitting an emission control signal EM,and the data line DL crossing the first scan line SL1 and transmitting adata signal DATA. The second scan line SL2 may be connected to the firstscan line SL1 of the next row or the previous row, and the second scansignal GI may be the first scan signal GW of the next row or theprevious row.

The power voltage line PL transmits the first power voltage ELVDD to thefirst transistor T1, and the initialization voltage line VIL transmitsan initialization voltage VENT for initializing the first transistor T1and a pixel electrode of organic light-emitting diode OLED to the pixelPX.

The first scan line SL1, the second scan line SL2, the emission controlline EL, and the initialization voltage line VIL may extend in the firstdirection D1 and may be spaced apart from each other in respective rows.The data line DL and the power voltage line PL may extend in the seconddirection D2 and may be spaced apart from each other in respectivecolumns. The first scan line SL1 or the second scan line SL2 may be thescan line SL illustrated in FIG. 4.

The pixel circuit PC of the pixel PX may include first to seventhtransistors T1 to T7 and the capacitor Cst. The first to seventhtransistors T1 to T7 may be thin film transistors.

The first transistor T1 is connected to the power voltage line PL viathe fifth transistor T5 and is electrically connected to the pixelelectrode of the organic light-emitting diode OLED via the sixthtransistor T6. The first transistor T1 serves as a driving transistor,and as the data signal DATA is transmitted to the first transistor T1according to a switching operation of the second transistor T2, thefirst transistor T1 supplies the driving current bled to the organiclight-emitting diode OLED.

The second transistor T2 is connected to the first scan line SL1 and thedata line DL, and as the second transistor T2 is turned on according tothe first scan signal GW received through the first scan line SL1, thesecond transistor T2 performs a switching operation for transmitting thedata signal DATA transmitted through the data line DL to a node N.

The third transistor T3 is connected to the pixel electrode of theorganic light-emitting diode OLED via the sixth transistor 16. As thethird transistor 13 is turned on according to the first scan signal GWreceived through the first scan line SL1, the third transistor T3diode-connects the first transistor T1.

As the fourth transistor 14 is turned on according to the second scansignal GI received through the second scan line SL2, the fourthtransistor T4 initializes a gate voltage of the first transistor T1 bytransmitting the initialization voltage VINT input to the initializationvoltage line VIL to a gate electrode of the first transistor T1.

As, the fifth transistor T5 and the sixth transistor T6 aresimultaneously turned on according to the emission control signal EMreceived through the emission control line EL, a current path is formedto allow the driving current Idled to flow in a direction from the powervoltage line PL to the organic light-emitting, diode OLED.

As the seventh transistor T7 is turned on according to the second scansignal received through the second scan line SL2, the seventh transistorT7 initializes the pixel electrode of the organic light-emitting diodeOLED by transmitting the initialization voltage VINT input to theinitialization voltage line VIL to the pixel electrode of the organic,light-emitting diode OLED. The seventh transistor T7 may be omitted.

Although FIG. 6B illustrates the fourth transistor T4 and the seventhtransistor T7 connected to the second scan line SL2, exemplaryembodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto. Accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the fourthtransistor T4 may be connected to the second scan line SL2, and theseventh transistor T7 may be connected to a separate wire and be drivenaccording to a signal transmitted to the wire.

The capacitor Cst may be connected to the power voltage line PL and thegate electrode of the first transistor T1 and may maintain a voltagethat is applied to the gate electrode of the first transistor T1 bystoring and maintaining a voltage corresponding to a difference betweenvoltages at both ends.

The organic light-emitting diode OLED may include the pixel electrode, acommon electrode facing the pixel electrode, and an emission layerbetween the pixel electrode and the common electrode. The second powervoltage ELVSS may be applied to the common electrode. The organiclight-emitting diode OLED receives the driving current toted from thefirst transistor T1 and thus emits light, thereby displaying an image.

The dummy pixel DPX may include the same pixel circuit PC as the pixelPX of FIGS. 6A and 6B and might not include some elements of the organiclight-emitting diode OLED and thus may emit no light. According to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the dummy pixel DPX mayinclude no pixel electrode but may include an emission layer and anopposite electrode.

FIG. 7 is a plan w schematically illustrating an example of a displaypanel 10B according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure. FIGS. 8 and 9 are plan views schematically illustrating an,example of region F and region F of FIG. 7. FIG. 10 is an enlarged planview of region E′ of FIG. 8.

In the display panel 10B of FIG. 7, an arrangement of first connectinglines 210 is different from that of the first connecting lines 201 ofthe display panel 10A of FIG. 1, however, other details may be at leastsimilar to what has already been described. Hereinafter, differentconfigurations from FIG. 1 will be mainly described.

Referring to FIG. 7, the display panel 10B, according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure, has the display area DA fordisplaying an image and the peripheral area PA located outside thedisplay area DA. For example, a substrate 100B included in the displaypanel 10B may include both the display area DA and the peripheral areaPA. The display area DA may include the dummy area DMA provided alongthe first to fourth edges E1 to E4 and the first and second corners CN1and CN2.

The plurality of pixels PX and wires capable of applying electricalsignals to the plurality of pixels PX may be located in the display areaDA. The pixel PX may be a pixel illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B, Thedummy pixels DPX may be arranged in the dummy area DMA surrounding thepixels PX and adjacent to the peripheral area PA.

Connecting lines 200 b for transmitting electrical signals supplied frompads to signal lines connected to the pixels PX may be provided on thesubstrate 1008. For example, signal lines may be the data lines DL, andthe connecting lines 200 b may be arranged between the data lines DE andthe pad area PADA to transmit data signals supplied from pads of the padarea PADA to the data lines DL.

The connecting lines 200 b may include the first connecting lines 210,second connecting lines 230, and third connecting lines 250. The firstconnecting lines 210 may be arranged in the display area DA, and thesecond connecting lines 230 and the third connecting lines 250 may bearranged in the peripheral area PA. Some of the first connecting lines210 may be arranged in the dummy area DMA, The second connecting lines230 and the third connecting lines 250 may be arranged in the fan-outarea FOA located in the peripheral area PA. The fan-out area FOA may belocated between the pad area PADA and the display area DA.

The display area DA may include a fourth area S4 and a fifth area S5 inwhich the first connecting lines 210 are arranged and a sixth area. S6,which is the remaining area excluding the fourth area S4 and the fiftharea S5. The fourth area S4 may be a left area of a first central lineCL1. The fifth area S5 may be a right area of the first central lineCL1. The first central line CL1 may be an imaginary line passing througha center of the display panel 108 in the first direction D1. Firstconnecting lines 210 aA arranged in the fourth area S4 and firstconnecting lines 210 bA arranged in the fifth area S5 may besubstantially and vertically symmetric about the first central CL1. Thesixth area S6 may be an area having no first connecting lines 210arranged therein. The fourth area S4 and the fifth area S5 may each havea substantially triangular shape. The fourth area S4 may include a firstsub-area S4 a where the first connecting lines 210 aA extend from thefourth edge E4 in a direction away from the peripheral area PA and asecond sub-area S4 b where the first connecting lines 210 aA extendtowards the first corner CN1 by changing the direction thereof in thefirst sub-area S4 a. The first sub-area S4 a and the second sub-area S4b may each have a substantially right triangle shape. The fifth area S5may include a third sub-area S5 a where the first connecting lines 210bA extend from the fourth edge E4 in a direction away from theperipheral area PA and a fourth sub-area S5 b where the first connectinglines 210 bA extend towards the second corner CN2 by changing thedirection thereof in the third sub-area. S5 a. The third sub-area S5 aand the fourth sub-area S5 b may each have a substantially righttriangle shape.

The first connecting lines 210 aA arranged in the fourth area S4 mayeach include a first portion 212 and a second portion 214. The firstportion 212 may be arranged in the first sub-area S4 a and may extend ina diagonal direction from the fourth edge E4 to a second central lineCL2, The diagonal direction may be a direction inclined from the firstdirection D1 or the second direction D2 by a certain angle (for example,an angle greater than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees). The secondportion 214 may be arranged in the second sub-area S4 b and may extendin the diagonal direction from the second central line CL2 to the firstcorner CN For example, the first portion 212 may extend in a firstdiagonal direction DD1 ascending from the lower right to the upper left,and the second portion 214 may extend in a second diagonal direction DD2descending from the upper right to the lower left. The second portion214 may be a portion where the first portion 212 extends by changing adirection thereof at the second central line CL2. According to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the first portion 212and the second portion 214 of each of the first connecting lines 210 aAmay be substantially and vertically symmetric about the second centralline CL2. For example, in the first connecting lines 210 aA, an anglebetween an extension direction of the first portion 212 and the firstdirection D1 or the second direction D2 and an angle between anextension direction of the second portion 214 and the first direction D1or the second direction D2 may be substantially identical. According toan exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, in the firstconnecting lines 210 aA, an angle between an extension direction of thefirst portion 212 and the first direction D1 or the second direction D2and an angle between an extension direction of the second portion 214and the first direction D1 or the second direction D2 may be differentfrom each other.

Likewise, the first connecting lines 210 bA, arranged in the fifth areaS5, may each include a first portion 216 and a second portion 218. Thefirst portion 216 may be arranged in the third sub-area S5 a and mayextend in the diagonal direction from the fourth edge E4 to a thirdcentral line CL3. The second portion 218 may be arranged in the fourthsub-area S5 b and may extend in the diagonal direction from the thirdcentral line CL3 to the second corner CN2. For example, the firstportion 216 may extend in a third diagonal direction DD3 ascending fromthe lower left to the upper right, and the second portion 218 may extendin a fourth diagonal direction DD4 descending from the upper left to thelower right. The second portion 218 may be a portion where the firstportion 216 extends by changing a direction thereof at the third centralline CL1. According to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the first portion 216 and the second portion 218 of each ofthe first connecting lines 210 bA may be substantially and verticallysymmetric about the third central line CL3. For example, in the firstconnecting lines 210 bA, an angle between an extension direction of thefirst portion 216 and the first direction D1 or the second direction D2and an angle between an extension direction of the second portion 218and the first direction D1 or the second direction D2 may besubstantially identical, According to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure, in the first connecting lines 210 bA, an anglebetween an extension direction of the first portion 216 and the firstdirection D1 or the second direction D2 and an angle between anextension direction of the second portion 218 and the first direction D1or the second direction D2 may be different from each other.

The first to fourth diagonal directions DD1 to DD4 may be directionsbetween the first direction D1 and the second direction D2, thedirections inclined with respect to the first direction D1 or the seconddirection D2 by a certain angle.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the first connecting lines 210 aA may belocated on different layers from the scan lines SL and the data lines DLof the pixel PX. One end of the first connecting line 210 aA may beconnected to the first data line DL1, and the other end thereof may beconnected to the second connecting line 230, One end of the firstconnecting line 210 aA may be connected to the first data line DL1 inthe dummy area DMA located at the first corner CN1. For example, thesecond portion 214 of the first connecting line 210 aA may be connectedto the first data line DL1 in a second contact portion CNT2 located inthe dummy area DMA.

The first portion 212 of the first connecting line 210 aA may beconnected to the second connecting line 230. According to an exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure, the second connecting line 230 maybe a portion where the first portion 212 of the first connecting line210 aA extends to the peripheral area PA via the dummy area DMA. One endof the second connecting line 230 may be connected to the other end ofthe first connecting line 210 aA, and the other end of the secondconnecting line 230 may be located in the pad area PADA. The other endof the second connecting line 230 may be connected to a pad arranged inthe pad area PADA.

One end of the third connecting line 250 may be connected to the seconddata line DL2, and the other end of the third connecting line 250 may belocated in the pad area PADA. The other end of the third connecting line250 may be connected to a pad arranged in the pad area PADA. One end ofthe third connecting line 250 may be connected to the second data lineDL2 in the peripheral area PA or the dummy area. DMA, The thirdconnecting line 250 may be a portion where the second data line DL2extends to the peripheral area. PA via the dummy area DMA.

Likewise, the first connecting lines 210 bA may be located on differentlayers from the scan lines SL and the data lines DL of the pixel PX. Oneend of the first connecting line 210 bA may be connected to the firstdata line DL1, and the other end of the first connecting line 210 bA maybe connected to the second connecting line 230. One end of the firstconnecting line 210 bA may be connected to the first data line DL1 inthe dummy area DMA located at the second corner CN2. For example, thesecond portion 218 of the first connecting line 210 bA may be connectedto the first data line DL1 in the second contact portion CNT2 located inthe dummy area DMA.

The first portion 216 of the first connecting line 210 bA may beconnected to the second connecting line 230. According to an exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure, the second connecting line 230 maybe a portion where the first portion 216 of the first connecting line210 bA extends to the peripheral area PA via the dummy area DMA. One endof the second connecting line 230 may be connected to the other end ofthe first connecting line 210 bA, and the other end of the secondconnecting line 230 may be connected to a pad of the pad area PADA.

One end of the third connecting line 250 may be connected to the seconddata line DL2, and the other end of the third connecting line 250 may beconnected to a pad of the pad area PADA. One end of the third connectingline 250 may be connected to the second data line DL2 in the peripheralarea PA or the dummy area DMA. The third connecting line 250 may be aportion where the second data line DL2 extends to the peripheral area PAvia the dummy area DMA.

The first data lines DL1 are data lines adjacent to the first corner Cly1 and the second corner CN2 and connected to the first connecting lines210 aA and 210 bA from among the data lines DL. The second data linesDL2 are data lines excluding the first data lines DL1, for example, datalines that are not connected to the first connecting lines 210 aA and210 bA, from among, the data lines DL.

The first connecting lines 210 aA and the second connecting lines 230may connect the first data lines DL1 arranged on a left side of thesecond central line CL2 and pads of the pad area PADA. The firstconnecting lines 210 bA and the second connecting lines 230 may connectthe first data lines DL1 arranged on a right side of the third centralline CL3 to pads of the pad area PADA, As the first connecting lines 210are arranged in the display area DA to connect the first data lines DLto the second connecting lines 230, the peripheral area PA around thefirst corner CN1 and the second corner CN2 may be reduced, and thus, adead space may be reduced without a decrease in the display area DA atthe first corner CN1 and the second corner CN2.

The first data lines DL1 each having one end located at the first cornerCN1 may be connected to the first connecting lines 210 aA and thus maybe electrically connected to the second connecting lines 230. The firstdata lines DL1 each having one end located at the second corner CN2 maybe connected to the first connecting lines 210 bA and thus may beelectrically connected to the second connecting lines 230. The seconddata lines DL2 spaced apart from the first corner CN1 and the secondcorner CN2 by a certain distance may be directly connected to the thirdconnecting lines 250.

Each of the first portion 212 and the second portion 214 of the firstconnecting line 210 aA may extend alternating between a firstsub-portion 211 a parallel to the scan line SL and a second sub-portion211 b parallel to the data line DL. Each of the first portion 216 andthe second portion 218 of the first connecting line 210 bA may extendalternating between the first sub-portion 211 a parallel to the scanline SIL and the second sub-portion 211 b parallel to the data line DE.The first sub-portion 211 a of the first connecting lines 210 aA and 210bA may extend parallel to the scan line SL as far as a first lengthcorresponding to a distance between two adjacent data lines DL. Thesecond sub-portion 211 b of the first connecting lines 210 aA and 210 bAmay extend parallel to the data line DL as far as a second lengthcorresponding to a distance between two adjacent scan lines SL. Thefirst sub-portion 211 a of the first connecting lines 210 aA and 210 bAmay overlap or be adjacent to the scan line SL. The second sub-portion211 b of the first connecting lines 210 aA and 210 bA may overlap or beadjacent to the data line DL.

The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 is an example in which thefirst connecting lines 210 aA and 210 bA each extend overlapping thescan line SL as far as the first length and then are bent to each extendoverlapping the data line DL as far as the second length. For example,the first portion 212 of the first connecting line 210 aA may zigzag inthe first diagonal direction DD1 on the whole as the first sub-portion211 a and the second sub-portion 211 b are repeated, and the secondportion 214 may zigzag in the second diagonal direction DD2 on the wholeas the first sub-portion 211 a and the second sub-portion 211 b arerepeated. The first portion 216 of the first connecting line 210 bA mayzigzag in the third diagonal direction DD3 on the whole as the firstsub-portion 211 a and the second sub-portion 211 b are repeated, and thesecond portion 218 may zigzag in the fourth diagonal direction DD4 onthe Whole as the first sub-portion 211 a and the second sub-portion 211b are repeated. For example, the first connecting lines 210 may bestep-pattern (or zigzag-pattern) wires having a shape of graduallyascending or descending in any one direction and including the firstsub-portions 211 a and the second sub-portions 211 b, which arealternately connected. The first sub-portion 211 a and the secondsub-portion 211 b may be connected to each other while substantiallycrossing, at right angles. Accordingly; the first connecting lines 210may overlap the scan lines SL of a plurality of rows and may overlap thedata lines DL of a plurality of columns.

The first portion 201 a of each of the first connecting lines 201 in theembodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 extends parallel to one scan line SLarranged in one row. The plurality of pixels PX may be connected to thescan line SL of each row, and scan signal may be simultaneously appliedto the plurality of pixels PX in each row. As the first portion 201 a ofthe first connecting line 201 extends parallel to one scan line SL ntimes as far as the first length, a parasitic capacitor may be formedbetween the first portion 201 a of the first connecting line 201 and thescan line SL, and thus, coupling may occur. Accordingly, a data signalwhiCh is transmitted to the data line DL connected to the firstconnecting line 201 may change, and thus, degradation of picture qualitydue to diagonal spots may occur.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7, the first connecting lines 210may extends in a zigzag shape via the plurality of pixels PX of aplurality of rows and a plurality of columns. For example, the firstsub-portions 211 a of the first connecting line 210 may be located indifferent rows, and accordingly, a length at which the first sub-portion211a overlaps the scan line SL each row may be decreased compared to theembodiment illustrated in FIG. 1. Scan signals may be applied to theplurality of scan lines SL arranged in different rows at differenttimings, and a parasitic capacitor between the first connecting line 210and the scan lines SL may be distributed among a plurality of rows andthus parasitic capacitance may decrease. Accordingly, degradation ofpicture quality due to diagonal spots may be prevented by reducing aninfluence of the scan line SL on a data signal.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, first pattern areas X1 defined betweenadjacent first connecting lines 210 aA may be located in the fourth areaS4. Dummy patterns 220 c 1 and 220 d 1 may be arranged in the firstpattern area X1. The first pattern areas X1 defined by the firstconnecting lines 210 bA may be located in the fifth area S5.

The first connecting lines 210 and the dummy patterns 220 c 1 and 220 d1 of the first pattern area X1 may be arranged on the same layer. Thedummy patterns 220 c 1 and 220 d 1 of the first pattern area X1 may bein a floating state.

Since reflection characteristics of light become similar in the fourtharea. S4 and the fifth area S5 due to the first pattern areas X1, it maybecome difficult to recognize a division between the fourth area S4 andthe fifth area S5 according to an incidence angle of light. Dummypatterns may prevent signal interference from occurring between a pixelcircuit and a first connecting line and may make it easier tomanufacture by securing pattern density.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, the first sub-portions 211 a of an adjacentpair of first connecting lines 210 aA and 210 bA may be spaced apartfrom each other by a length (the second length) corresponding to adistance between two adjacent scan lines SL in the second direction D2,The second sub-portions 211 b of the adjacent pair of first connectinglines 210 aA and 210 bA may be spaced apart from each other by a length(the first length) corresponding to a distance between two adjacent datalines DL in the first direction D1.

A display element may be arranged on the first connecting lines 210,Hereinafter, descriptions will be given with reference to FIGS. 11 and12.

FIG. 11 illustrates an example in which a pixel electrode 131 and ashielding member 150 are arranged on the first connecting lines 210.FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I′ of FIG. 11.

The plurality of pixels PX may be arranged in the display area DA of thesubstrate 100B. A thin film transistor TFT, the capacitor Cst, and adisplay element 130 electrically connected to the thin film transistorTFT may be arranged in each pixel PX. The display element 130 may be theorganic light-emitting diode OLED of FIGS. 6A and 6B. The thin filmtransistor TFT may be one of the transistors of FIGS. 6A and 6B. Forexample, the thin film transistor TFT illustrated in FIG. 12 may be thefirst transistor T1 of FIGS. 6A and 6B.

A buffer layer 111 may be located on the substrate 100B as desired. Thebuffer layer 111 may planarize a surface of the substrate 10018 or mayprevent impurities, etc. from penetrating, a semiconductor layerarranged thereon. The buffer layer H1 may have a single-layer/multilayerstructure including an inorganic insulating material such as siliconoxide, silicon nitride, and/or silicon oxynitride. The buffer layer 111may be omitted.

The thin film transistor TFT may be arranged on the buffer layer 111.The thin film transistor TFT may include a semiconductor layer 121, agate electrode 122, a source electrode 123S, and a drain electrode 123D.

The semiconductor layer 121 may include amorphous silicon,polycrystalline silicon, and/or an organic semiconductor material. Thesemiconductor layer 121 may include a source region, a drain region, anda channel region between the source region and the drain region.

Taking into account factors such, as adhesion to a neighboring layer,surface smoothness of a layer to be stacked, and processability, thegate electrode 122 may have a single-layer or multilayer structureincluding, for example, aluminum (Al), platinum (Pt), palladium (pd),silver (Ag), magnesium (Mg), gold (Au), nickel (Ni), neodymium (Nd),iridium (ir), chromium (Cr), lithium (Li), calcium (Ca), molybdenum(Mo), titanium (Ti), tungsten (W), and/or copper (Cu).

A first insulating layer 112 may be arranged between the semiconductorlayer 121 and the gate electrode 122. A second insulating layer 113 anda third insulating layer 114 may each be arranged between the gateelectrode 122 and the source and drain electrodes 123S and 123D. Thefirst insulating layer 112, the second insulating layer 113, and thethird insulating layer 114 may include an inorganic material such assilicon oxide, silicon nitride and/or silicon oxynitride. The scan linesSL, SL1, and SL2 and the emission control line EL of FIGS. 6A and 6B maybe arranged on the same layer as the gate electrode 122, for example, onthe first insulating layer 112.

The source electrode 123S and the drain electrode 1231) may beelectrically connected to the source region and the drain region of thesemiconductor layer 121, respectively, via contact holes formed in thefirst insulating layer 112, the second insulating layer 113, and thethird insulating layer 114.

The source electrode 123S and the drain electrode 123D may have asingle-layer or multilayer structure including for example, aluminum(Al), platinum (Pt), palladium (pd), silver (Ag), magnesium (Mg), gold(Au), nickel (Ni), neodymium (Nd), iridium at), chromium (Cr), lithium(Li), calcium (Ca), molybdenum (Mo), titanium (Ti), tungsten (W), and/orcopper (Cu).

The capacitor Cst includes a lower electrode CE1 and an upper electrodeCE2 overlapping each other with the second insulating layer 113 disposedtherebetween. The capacitor Cst may overlap the thin film transistorTFT. In this regard. FIG. 12 illustrates the gate electrode 122 of thethin film transistor TFT being the lower electrode CE1 of the capacitorCst. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thecapacitor Cst might not overlap the thin film transistor TFT, and thelower electrode CE1 of the capacitor Cst may be an independent elementseparate from the gate electrode 122 of the thin film transistor TFT.The capacitor Cst may be covered by the third insulating layer 114. Theinitialization voltage line VIL of FIG. 6B may be arranged on the samelayer as the upper electrode CE2 of the capacitor Cst, for example, onthe second insulating layer 113.

The pixel circuit including the thin film transistor TFT and thecapacitor Cst may be covered by a fourth insulating layer 115 and afifth insulating layer 116. The fourth insulating layer 115 and thefifth insulating layer 116, which are planarization insulating layers,may be organic insulating layers. The fourth insulating layer 115 andthe fifth insulating layer 116 may include an organic insulatingmaterial such as a general-purpose polymer such as poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) or polystyrene (PS), a polymer derivative having aphenolic group, an acrylic polymer, an imide-based polymer, an arylether-based polymer, an amide-based polymer, a fluorine-based polymer, ap-xylene-based polymer, a vinyl alcohol-based polymer, a blend thereofetc. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thefourth insulating laser 115 and the fifth insulating layer 116 may eachinclude polyimide.

Various conductive layers may be further arranged on the thirdinsulating layer 114. For example, the data line DL and the powervoltage line PL may be arranged on the third insulating layer 114, forexample, on the same layer as the source electrode 123S and the drainelectrode 1231). The data line DL and the power voltage line PL mayinclude magnesium (Mg), aluminum (Al), copper (Cu), titanium (Ti), etc.and may have a multilayer or single-layer structure. According to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the data line DL and thepower voltage line PL may have a multilayer structure of Ti/Al/Ti.

The fourth insulating layer 115 may be arranged on the data line DL andthe power voltage line PL. As illustrated in FlIG. 10, the firstconnecting line 210 and the dummy patterns 22001 and 220 d 1 may bearranged on the fourth insulating layer 115. The first connecting line210 and the dummy patterns 220 c 1 and 220 d may be single films ormultilayered films including magnesium (Mg), aluminum (Al), copper (Cu),titanium (Ti), and/or an alloy thereof. According to an exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure, the first connecting line 210 andthe dummy patterns 220 c 1 and 220 d 1 may have a multilayer structureof Ti/Al/Ti. The fifth insulating layer 116 may be arranged on the firstconnecting line 210 and the dummy patterns 220 c 1 and 220 d 1.According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, aportion of the first connecting line 210 may overlap or be adjacent tothe data line DL, and the other portion thereof may overlap or beadjacent to the scan line SL. FIG. 12 illustrates an example in whichthe second portion 211 b of the first connecting line 210 (210 aA, 210bA) is adjacent to the data line DL and overlaps the power voltage linePL. The first portion 211 a of the first connecting line 210 (210 aA,210 bA) may overlap or be adjacent to the scan line SL.

The display element 130 may be arranged on the fifth insulating layer116, The display element 130 may include the pixel electrode 131, anopposite electrode 135, and an intermediate layer 133 between the pixelelectrode 131 and the opposite electrode 135.

The pixel electrode 131 may include conductive oxide such as indium tinoxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), zinc oxide (ZnO), indium oxide(In₂O₃), indium gallium oxide (IGO), and/or aluminum zinc oxide (AZO).According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thepixel electrode 131 may include a reflecting film including silver (Ag),magnesium (Mg), aluminum (Al), platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), gold (Au),nickel (Ni), neodymium (Nd), iridium (h), chromium (Cr), and/or acompound thereof. According to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the pixel electrode 131 may further include a film on/underthe above-described reflecting film, the film including ITO, IZO, ZnO,and/or In₂O₃. The pixel electrode 131 may be electrically connected tothe source electrode 123S or the drain electrode 123D of the thin filmtransistor TFT through a connecting member 12S arranged on the fourthinsulating layer 115.

The shielding member 150 may be further arranged on the fifth insulatinglayer 116, The shielding member 150 may extend along a portion of theedge of the pixel, electrode 131 in the first direction D1 not tooverlap the pixel electrode 131 in plan view and may be arranged on anupper side or a lower side of each row. The shielding member 150 mayhave a linear shape or a zigzag shape extending in the first directionD1, according to arrangement of the pixel electrodes 131 of the samerow. The shielding member 150 may include lightproof metal. For example,the shielding member 150 may include magnesium (Mg), aluminum (Al),copper (Cu), titanium (Ti), etc. and may have a multilayer orsingle-layer structure including the above material. According to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the shielding member 150may have a multilayer structure of Ti/Al/Ti. The shielding member 150may include the same material as the pixel electrode 131. The shieldingmembers 150 may be mutually spaced apart and may be independentlyprovided for each row. The shielding members 150 may be floating, or maybe electrically connected to a constant voltage wire (for example, apower voltage line, an initialization voltage line, etc.) to receiveconstant voltage.

A sixth insulating layer 117 covering the edge of the pixel electrode131 may be arranged on the fifth insulating layer 116. The sixthinsulating layer 117 may have an opening OP partially exposing the pixelelectrode 131 and thus may define a pixel. The sixth insulating layer117 may include an organic material such as acryl, benzocyclobutenepolyimide, or hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO). Alternatively, the sixthinsulating layer 117 may include the above-described inorganic material.

The intermediate layer 133 may be on the pixel electrode 131 exposed bythe opening OP of the sixth insulating layer 117. The intermediate layer133 includes an emission layer. The emission layer may include a polymeror low-molecular weight organic material emitting light having certaincolor. The emission layer may be a red emission layer, a green emissionlayer, or a blue emission layer. Alternatively, the emission layer mayhave a multilayer structure in which a red emission layer, a green,emission layer, and a blue emission layer are stacked to emit whitelight or may have a single-layer structure including a red luminescentmaterial, a green luminescent material, and a blue luminescent material.According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, theintermediate layer 133 may include a first functional layer under theemission layer and/or a second functional layer on the emission layer.The first functional layer and/or the second functional layer mayinclude an integral layer over a plurality of pixel electrodes 131 ormay include a layer patterned to correspond to each of the plurality ofpixel electrodes 131.

The first functional layer may have a single-layer or multilayerstructure. For example, when the first functional layer includes apolymer material, the first functional layer may be a hole transportlayer (HTL) having a single-layer structure and may includepoly-(3,4)-ethylene-dihydroxy thiophene (PEDOT) or polyaniline (PANI).When the first functional layer includes a low-molecular weightmaterial, the first functional layer may include a hole injection layer(HIL) and an HTL.

The second functional layer is not always provided. For example, whenthe first functional layer and the emission layer include a polymermaterial, the second functional layer may be formed to makecharacteristics of an organic light-emitting diode excellent. The secondfunctional layer may have a single-layer or multilayer structure. Thesecond functional layer may include an electron transport layer (ETL)and/or an electron injection layer (EIL).

The opposite electrode 135 faces the pixel electrode 131 with theintermediate layer 133 disposed therebetween. The opposite electrode 135may include a conductive material having a low work function. Forexample, the opposite electrode 135 may include a (semi)transparentlayer including silver (Ag), magnesium (Mg), aluminum (Al), platinum(Pt), palladium (pd), gold (Au), nickel (Ni), neodymium (Nd), (it),chromium (Cr), lithium (Li), calcium (Ca), or an alloy thereof.Alternatively, the opposite electrode 135 may further include a layersuch as ITO, IZO, ZnO, or In₂O₃ on the {semi}transparent layer includingthe above-described material. As used herein, the phrase “low workfunction” may be understood to mean a work function that is within therange of the work functions, or lower that the work functions, for thematerials listed above.

FIGS. 13 and 14 are plan views schematically illustrating an example ofthe sixth; area S6 of FIG. 7.

Referring to FIG. 13, a dummy line 300 may be arranged in the sixth areaS6. The dummy line 300 may include a plurality of first portions 101extending in the first direction D1 and mutually spaced apart and aplurality of second portions 302 extending in the second direction D2,crossing the first portions 301, and mutually spaced apart. The dummyline 300 may have a grid structure in which the plurality of firstportions 301 and the plurality of second portions 302 are mutuallyconnected. In the sixth area S6, second pattern areas X2 may be definedby the dummy line 300. A plurality of dummy patterns 313 and 315 may bearranged in the second pattern area X2. The dummy line 300 and the dummypatterns 313 and 315 may be in a floating state. According to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the dummy line 300 andthe dummy patterns 313 and 315 may be electrically connected to thepower voltage line PL to receive the first power voltage ELVDD. In thiscase, the dummy line 300 and the dummy patterns 313 and 315 may serve asa portion of the power voltage line PL in the sixth area S6 and thus mayallow the power voltage line PL to have a dual wire structure, therebypreventing a voltage drop of the power voltage line PL.

The dummy line 300 and the dummy patterns 313 and 315 may be arranged onthe same layer. The dummy line 300 may be arranged on the same layer asthe first connecting lines 210. The dummy line 300 and the dummypatterns 313 and 315 may be insulated from the first connecting lines210. The dummy line 300 may include the same material as the firstconnecting lines 210, The fifth insulating layer 116 (of FIG. 12) may bearranged on the dummy line 300 and the dummy patterns 313 and 315, andas illustrated in FIG. 14, the display element 130 and the shieldingmember 150 may be arranged on the fifth insulating layer 116.

FIGS. 15A and 15B are plan views illustrating arrangement of the firstconnecting line 210 according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure. FIG. 15A may be an enlarged view of part E of FIG. 7.

The first connecting line 210 may include first connecting lines 210 aBarranged in the fourth area S4 and first connecting: lines 210 bBarranged in the fifth area S5.

Referring to FIG. 15A, each of the first connecting lines 210 aB mayinclude a first portion 212′ located on a right side of the secondcentral line CL2 and a second portion 214′ located on a left side of thesecond central line CL2. The first portion 212′ may be arranged in thefirst sub-area S4 a and may extend in a diagonal direction from thefourth edge E4 to the second central line CL2. The diagonal directionmay be a direction inclined from the first direction D1 or the seconddirection D2 by a certain angle (for example, an angle greater than 0degrees and less than 90 degrees). The second portion 214′ may bearranged in the second sub-area S4 b and may extend in the diagonaldirection from the second central line CL2 to the first corner CN1. Forexample, the first portion 212′ may extend in the first diagonaldirection DD1, and the second portion 214 may extend in the seconddiagonal direction DD2. The second portion 214′ may be a portion wherethe first portion 212′ extends by changing a direction thereof at thesecond central line CL2. According to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure, the first portion 212′ and the second portion 214′of each of the first connecting lines 210 aB may be substantiallysymmetric about the second central line CL2. For example, in the firstconnecting lines 210 aB, an angle between an extension direction of thefirst portion 212′ and the first direction D1 or the second direction D2and an angle between an extension direction of the second portion 214and the first direction D1 or the second direction D2 may besubstantially identical. According to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure, in the first connecting lines 210 aB, an anglebetween an extension direction of the first portion 212′ and the firstdirection D1 or the second direction D2 and an angle between anextension direction of the second portion 214′ and the first directionD1 or the second direction D2 may be different from each other. Thefirst portion 212′ may be connected to the second connecting line 230,The second portion 214′ may be electrically connected to the first dataline DL1 in the dummy area DMA located at the first corner CN1.

The fifth insulating layer 116 (of FIG. 12) may be arranged on the firstconnecting lines 210 aB, and the pixel electrode 131 of the displayelement 130 and the shielding member 150 may be arranged on the fifthinsulating layer 116. An area of the pixel electrode 131 where theemission layer is arranged might not overlap the first connecting line210 aB.

Likewise, referring to FIG. 15B, each of the first connecting lines 210bB may include a first portion 216′ located on, a left side of the thirdcentral line CL3 and a second portion 218′ located on a right side ofthe third central line CL3. The first portion 216′ may be arranged inthe third sub-area S5 a and may extend in the diagonal direction fromthe fourth edge E4 to the third central line CL3. The second portion218′ may be arranged in the fourth sub-area S5 b and may extend in thediagonal direction from the third central line CL3 to the second cornerCN2. For example, the first portion 216′ may extend in the thirddiagonal direction D03, and the second portion 218′ may extend in thefourth diagonal direction DD4. The second portion 218′ may be a portionwhere the first portion 216′ extends by changing a direction thereof atthe third central line CD, According to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure, the first portion 216′ and the second portion 218′of each of the first connecting lines 210 bB may be substantially andvertically symmetric about the third central line CL3. For example, inthe first connecting lines 210 bB, an angle between an extensiondirection of the first portion 216 and the first direction D1 or thesecond direction D2 and an angle between an extension direction of thesecond portion 218′ and the first direction D1 or the second directionD2 may be substantially identical. According to an exemplary embodimentof the present disclosure, in the first connecting lines 210 bB, anangle between an extension direction of the first portion 216′ and thefirst direction D1 or the second direction D2 and an angle between anextension direction of the second portion 218′ and the first directionD1 or the second direction D2 may be different from each other. Thefirst portion 216′ may be connected to the second connecting line 230.The second portion 218′ may be electrically connected to the first dataline DU in the dummy area DMA located at the second corner CN2. Thefirst to fourth diagonal directions DD1 to DD4 may be directions betweenthe first direction D1 and the second direction D2.

The fifth insulating layer 116 (of FIG. 12) may be arranged on the firstconnecting lines 210 bB, and the pixel electrode 131 of the displayelement 130 and the shielding member 150 may be arranged on the fifthinsulating layer 116. An area of the pixel electrode 131 where theemission layer is arranged might not overlap the first connecting line210 bB.

The embodiment of FIGS. 15A and 15B is different from the embodiment ofFIG. 10 in which the first connecting lines 210 aA and 210 bA extend ina zigzag shape, in that the first connecting lines 210 aB and 210 bBextend linearly. Dummy patterns in various numbers and shapes may belocated between the first connecting lines 210 aB and 210 bB.

FIG. 16 is a plan view illustrating arrangement of the first connectingline 210 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

The first connecting line 210 may include first connecting lines 210 aCarranged in the fourth area S4 and first connecting lines 210 bCarranged in the fifth area S5. The first connecting lines 210 aC mayinclude a first portion 212″ located on a right side of the secondcentral line CL2 and a second portion 214″ located on a left side of thesecond central line CL2. The first portion 212″ and the second portion214″ may be substantially symmetric about the second central line CL2.The first connecting lines 210 bC may include a first portion 216″located on a left side of the third central line CL3 and a secondportion 218″ located on a right side of the third central line CL3. Thefirst portion 216″ and the second portion 218″ may be substantiallysymmetric about the third central line CL3.

Referring to FIG. 16, the first portions 212″ and 216″ and the secondportions 214″ and 218″ of the first connecting lines 210 aC and 210 bCmay extend alternating a first sub-portion 217 a parallel to the scanline SL and a second sub-portion 217 b parallel to the data line DL. Thefirst sub-portion 217 a of the first connecting lines 210 aC and 210 bCmay extend parallel to the scan line SL as far as the first length. Thesecond sub-portion 217 b of the first connecting lines 210 aC and 210 bCmay extend parallel to the data line DL as far as the second length. Thefirst sub-portion 217 a of the first connecting lines 210 aC and 210 bCmay overlap or be adjacent to the scan line SL The second sub-portion2171 of the first connecting lines 210 aC and 210 bC may overlap or beadjacent to the data line DL.

The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 16 is an example in which the firstconnecting lines 210 aC and 210 bC extend overlapping the scan line SLas far as the first length and then are bent to extend overlapping thedata line DL as far as the second length. For example, the first portion212″ and the second portion 214″ of the first connecting line 210 aC mayzigzag in the first diagonal direction DD1 and the second diagonaldirection DD2 on the whole as the first sub-portion 217 a and the secondsub-portion 217 b are repeated. The first portion 216″ and the secondportion 218″ of the first connecting line 210 bC may zigzag in the thirddiagonal direction DD3 and the fourth diagonal direction DD4 on thewhole as the first sub-portion 217 a and the second sub-portion 217 bare repeated. For example, the first connecting lines 210 may overlapthe scan lines SL of a plurality of rows and may overlap the data linesDL of a plurality of columns.

In FIG. 16, the first sub-portions 217 a of adjacent first connectinglines 210 aC and 210 bC are spaced apart from each other by a lengthcorresponding to distances between three scan lines SL adjacent to oneanother in the second direction D2. The second sub-portions 217 b of theadjacent first connecting lines 210 aC and 210 bC are spaced apart fromeach other by a length corresponding to distances between three datalines DL adjacent to one another in the first direction D1.

The first connecting lines 210 aC and 210 bC may further includebranches 217 c protruding from the first sub-portion 217 a and thesecond sub-portion 217 b. The branches 217 c may protrude from portionswhere the first connecting lines 210 aC and 210 bC are bent, in thefirst direction D1 and the second direction 12, For example, thebranches 217 c may protrude from portions where the first sub-portion217 a and the second sub-portion 217 b meet each other, for example, aportion where the first sub-portion 217 a is bent to the secondsub-portion 217 b and a portion where the second sub-portion 217 b isbent to the first sub-portion 217 a, in the first direction D1 and thesecond direction D2, To prevent a short circuit between the firstconnecting lines 210 aC and 210 bC, ends of the branches 217 cprotruding from adjacent first connecting lines 210 aC and 210 bCtowards each other may be disconnected from each other and spaced apartfrom each other. The branches 217 c protruding from adjacent firstconnecting lines 210 aC and 210 bC towards each other may be located onthe same line. Dummy patterns 220 c 3 and 220 d 3 may be arranged in athird pattern area X3 defined by the first connecting lines 210 aC and210 bC. The dummy patterns 220 c 3 and 220 d 3 may be in a floatingstate.

According to the previous embodiments, in the first connecting line 210,a first sub-portion has the first length and a second sub-portion hasthe second length. However, the present invention is not limitedthereto. For example, the first connecting line 210 may extend such thatthe first sub-portion is n times as long as the first length and thesecond sub-portion is n times as long as the second length.Alternatively, some of first sub-portions of the first connecting line210 may have the first length, and the others may be n times as long asthe first length. In addition, some of second sub-portions of the firstconnecting line 210 may have the second length, and the others may be ntimes as long as the second length.

According to the previous embodiments, the first connecting lines 210are r wires or step-pattern wires gradually ascending; or descending inany one direction. However, embodiments are not limited thereto. Forexample, the first connecting lines 210 may be wires where at least oneof a portion gradually ascending and/or descending in any one direction,a portion extending in a direction parallel to a data line, and aportion extending in a direction parallel to the scan line is mixed asillustrated in the embodiments described below.

FIGS. 17 and 18 are plan views illustrating shapes of the firstconnecting line 210 according to exemplary embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

Referring to FIG. 17, the first connecting lines 210 may include firstconnecting lines 210 aD arranged on a left side of the first centralline CL1 and first connecting lines 210 bD arranged on a right side ofthe first central line CL1. According to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure, the first connecting lines 210 aD and the firstconnecting lines 210 bD may be substantially symmetric about the firstcentral line CL1. According to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure, extension directions of the first connecting lines 210 aDand the first connecting lines 210 bD may be symmetric about the firstcentral line CL1, whereas angles of the extension directions withrespect to the first central line CL1 may be different from each other.

Each of the first connecting lines 210 aD may include first portions 210a 11 extending in the second direction D2, second portions 210 a 12extending in a diagonal direction between the first direction D1 and thesecond direction D2, and third portions 210 a 13 extending in aninversely diagonal direction. The second portions 210 a 12 and the thirdportions 210 a 13 may be alternated between a pair of first portions 210a 11. The second portion 210 a 12 and the third portion 210 a 13 may besubstantially symmetric. According to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure, angles of respective extension directions of thesecond portion 210 a 12 and the third portion 210 a 13 with respect tothe first central line CL1 may be different from each other. The firstportion 210 a 11 may extend linearly. The second portion 210 a 12 andthe third portion 210 a 13 may extend in a linear shape as illustratedin FIG. 15A or in a zigzag shape as illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 16.

Likewise, each of the first connecting lines 210 bD may include firstportions 210 b 11 extending in the second direction D2, second portions210 b 12 extending in a diagonal direction between the first directionD1 and the second direction D2, and third portions 210 b 13 extending inan inversely diagonal direction. The second portions 210 b 12 and thethird portions 210 b 13 may be alternated between a pair of firstportions 210 b 11. The second portion 210112 and the third portion 210 b13 may be substantially symmetric. According to an exemplary embodimentof the present disclosure, angles of respective extension directions ofthe second portion 210 b 12 and the third portion 210 b 13 with respect,to the first central line CL1 may be different from each other. Thefirst portion 210 b 11 may extend linearly. The second portion 210 b 12and the third portion 210 b 13 may extend in a linear shape asillustrated in FIG. 15B or in a zigzag shape as illustrated in FIGS. 10and 16.

Referring to FIG. 18, the first connecting lines 210 may include firstconnecting lines 210 a arranged on a left side of the first central lineCU and first connecting lines 210 bE arranged on a right side of thefirst central line CU According to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure, the first connecting lines 210 aE and the firstconnecting lines 210 bE may be substantially symmetric about the firstcentral line CL1. According to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure, extension directions of the first connecting lines 210 aEand the first connecting lines 210 bE may be symmetric about the firstcentral line CL1, whereas angles of the extension directions withrespect to the first central line CL1 may be different from each other.

Each of the first connecting lines 210 aE may include first portions 210a 21 extending in the second direction D2, second portions 210 a 22extending in a diagonal direction between the first direction D1 and thesecond direction D2, third portions 210 a 23 extending in the firstdirection D1 and fourth portions 210 a 24 extending in an inverselydiagonal direction. The second portions 210 a 22, the third portions 210a 23, and the fourth portions 210 a 24 may be alternated between a pairof first portions 210 a 21. Angles of respective extension directions ofthe second portion 210 a 22 and the fourth portion 210 a 24 with respectto the first central line CL may be the same as each other. According toan exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, angles of respectiveextension directions of the second portion 210 a 22 and the fourthportion 210 a 24 with respect to the first central line CL1 may bedifferent from each other. The first portion 210 a 21 and the thirdportion 210 a 23 may extend linearly. The second portion 210 a 22 andthe fourth portion 210 a 24 may extend in a linear shape as illustratedin FIG. 15A or in a zigzag shape as illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 16.

Likewise, each of the first connecting lines 2101E may include firstportions 210 b 21 extending in the second direction D2, second portions210 b 22 extending in a diagonal direction between the first directionD1 and the second direction D2, third portions 210 b 23 extending in thefirst direction D1, and fourth portions 210 b 24 extending in aninversely diagonal direction. The second portions 210 b 22, the thirdportions 210 b 23, and the fourth portions 210 b 24 may alternatebetween a pair of first portions 210 b 21. Angles of respectiveextension directions of the second portion 210 b 22 and the fourthportion 210 b 24 with respect to the first central line CL1 may beidentical, According to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure, angles of respective extension directions of the secondportion 210 b 22 and the fourth portion 210 b 24 with respect to thefirst central line CL1 may be different from each other. The firstportion 210 b 21 and the third portion 210 b 23 may extend linearly. Thesecond portion 210 b 22 and the fourth portion 210 b 24 may extend in alinear shape as illustrated FIG. 15B or in a zigzag shape as illustratedin FIGS. 10 and 16.

FIG. 19 is a diagram schematically illustrating the second connectingline 230 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 19, the second connecting lines 230 may have a zigzagpattern between the display area DA and the bending area BA, forexample, between the dummy area DMA and the bending area BA. Asrespective lengths of the first connecting lines 210 are different, RCdeviation between the first connecting lines 210 may occur. In theembodiment of FIG. 19, the second connecting lines 230 connected to thefirst connecting lines 210 have a zigzag pattern to reduce lengthdeviation of the first connecting lines 210. The RC deviation betweenthe first connecting lines 210 may be compensated for by increasing thenumber of zigzag patterns of the second connecting lines 230 in adirection from a center of the first central line CL1 to the edges E1and E2.

FIG. 20 illustrates an example of a display panel 10C including a firstconnecting line according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure. FIG. 21 is a diagram schematically enlarging a portion ofFIG. 20.

Referring, to FIG. 20, the display panel 10C has a trench portion TH ona side of the substrate 1000, the trench portion TN dented inwardly. Thetrench portion may be a through portion, which is a removed area throughan upper surface and a lower surface of the substrate 100C. The trenchportion TH may be variously modified to have, for example, a shape inwhich a U-shaped configuration or a configuration of a portion of apolygon is removed. A component such as a camera, a speaker, a sensor,etc. may be arranged in the trench portion TH. The component isdescribed below with reference to FIG. 22.

A display area of the substrate 100C may include a first display areaDA1, which is a main display area, and a second display area DA2 and athird display area. DA3 protruding from the first display area DA1 inthe second direction D2. The second display area DA2 and the thirddisplay area DA3 may be spaced apart from each other by a certaindistance in the first direction D1. The peripheral area PA at leastpartially surrounds the perimeter of the display area DA. The displayarea DA may include a dummy area in which dummy pixels are arranged, thedummy area at least partially surrounding the edge of the display areaDA at a boundary with the peripheral area PA.

The second display area DA2 may have the first corner CN1 having a roundshape in proximity to the trench portion TN. The third display, area DA3may have the second corner CN2 having a round shape in proximity to thetrench portion TH. As illustrated in FIG. 21, a first connecting line210′ may be arranged in the second display area DA2 and the thirddisplay area. DA3 to reduce the peripheral area PA at the first cornerCN1 and the second corner CN2. The first connecting, line 210′ may bevertically symmetric about an imaginary straight line IL. According toan exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, an angle of adirection in which the first connecting line 240′ extends to a left sideof the imaginary straight line IL with respect to the straight line ILand an angle of a direction in which the first connecting line 210′extends to a right side of the imaginary straight line IL with respectto the straight line IL may be different from each other.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thefirst connecting line 210′ may extend in a zigzag shape via the pixelsPX of a plurality of rows and columns as illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 16.According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thefirst connecting line 210′ may have a linear shape across the pixels PXas illustrated in FIGS. 15A and 15B. According to an exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure, the first connecting line 210′ mayhave various shapes in which a linear portion and a zigzag portion aremixed as illustrated in FIGS. 17 and 18.

As illustrated in FIG. 21, one end of the first connecting line 210′ maybe electrically connected to the first data line DL1 in a third contactportion CN3 of the first corner CN1. The other end of the firstconnecting line 210′ may be connected to a second connecting line 230′in the peripheral area PA. The second connecting line 230′ may be aportion where the other end of the first connecting line 210′ extends tothe peripheral area PA. The second data line DL2 not connected to thefirst connecting line 210′ may be connected to a third connecting line250′ in the peripheral area PA. The third connecting line 250′ may be aportion where the second data line DL2 extends to the peripheral areaPA.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view illustrating a display apparatus 1including a display panel according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure, and FIGS. 23A and 23B are respective cross-sectionalviews taken along line V-V of FIG. 22.

Referring to FIG. 22, the display apparatus 1 includes an opening areaOA, the display area DA, a middle area MA between the opening area OAand the display area DA, and the peripheral area PA surrounding thedisplay area DA. The display apparatus 1 may provide a certain image byusing light emitted from a plurality of pixels arranged in the displayarea A. FIG. 22 illustrates one opening area OA arranged inside thedisplay area DA, and the opening area OA may be entirely surrounded bythe display area DA. The opening area OA may be an area where thecomponent described below with reference to FIGS. 23A and 23B isarranged. According to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the opening area OA may be a transmission area including ahole through at least one component of the display apparatus 1.According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, theopening area OA may be a transmission area where at least one componentof the display apparatus 1 has no hole.

The middle area MA may be arranged between the opening area OA and thedisplay area DA, and the display area DA may be at least partiallysurrounded by the peripheral area PA. The middle area MA and theperipheral area PA may be non-display areas having no pixels arrangedtherein. The middle area MA may be entirely surrounded by the displayarea. DA, and the display area DA may be entirely surrounded by theperipheral area PA.

The display area. DA may include an upper display area beingsubstantially flat and side display areas extending from the upperdisplay area and continuous from the upper display area. The upperdisplay area may include round corners. The side display areas may bedisplay areas extending from at least one side from among four sides ofthe upper display area. The side display areas may each include an areacurved at a certain curvature and an area substantially verticallycurved.

Referring to FIG. 23A, the display apparatus 1 may include a displaypanel 10, an input sensing layer 40 arranged on the display panel 10,and an optical function layer 50, and these components may be covered bya window 60. The display apparatus 1 may represent one of various typesof electronic devices such as a mobile phone, a notebook computer, asmartwatch, etc.

The display panel 10 may be the display panel 10A illustrated in FIG. 1or the display panel 10B illustrated in FIG. 7. The display panel 10 isdescribed below with reference to FIGS. 25A to 25D.

The input sensing layer 40 may be located on the display panel 10. Theinput sensing layer 40 obtains coordinate information according to anexternal input, for example, a touch event, which may be a touch by afinger or stylus. The input sensing layer 40 may include a sensingelectrode or touch electrode and a trace line connected to the sensingelectrode or touch electrode. The input sensing layer 40 may be arrangedon the display panel 10. The input sensing layer 40 may sense anexternal input by using a mutual-capacitance method and/or aself-capacitance method.

The input sensing layer 40 may be directly formed on the display panel10, or may be separately formed and be combined with the display panel10 through an adhesive layer such as optical clear adhesive. Forexample, the input sensing layer 40 may be formed consecutively after aprocess of forming the display panel 10, and in this case, the inputsensing layer 40 may be a portion of the display panel 10, and noadhesive layer might be disposed between the input sensing layer 40 andthe display panel 10. FIG. 20A illustrates the input sensing layer 40disposed between the display panel 10 and the optical function layer 50.However, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure,the input sensing layer 40 may be arranged on the optical function layer50.

The optical function layer 50 may include a reflection-preventing layer.The reflection-preventing layer may decrease reflectance of incidentlight (external light) travelling from the outside toward the displaypanel 10 through the window 60. The reflection-preventing layer mayinclude a retarder and a polarizer. The retarder may be of a film typeor a liquid crystal coating type and may include a half wave plate (λ/2retarder) and/or a quarter wave plate (V4 retarder). The polarizer mayalso be of a film type or a liquid crystal coating type. The film-typepolarizer may include a stretchable synthetic resin film, and the liquidcrystal coating-type polarizer may include liquid crystals in a certainarrangement. The retarder and the polarizer may further include aprotective film. The protective film of the retarder and the polarizermay be defined as a base layer of the reflection-preventing layer.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thereflection-preventing layer may include a black matrix and colorfilters. The color filters may be arranged by taking into account colorof light emitted from each pixel of the display panel 10, Each of thecolor filters may include a red, green, or blue pigment or dye.Alternatively, each of the color filters may further include quantumdots in addition to the above-described pigment or dye. Alternatively,some of the color filters might not include the above-described pigmentor dye but scattered particles such as titanium oxide.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, thereflection-preventing layer may include a destructive interferencestructure. The destructive interference structure may include a firstreflective layer and a second reflective layer arranged on differentlayers from each other. First reflected light and second reflected lightrespectively reflected from the first reflective layer and the secondreflective layer may experience destructive interference, and thus,reflectance of external light may decrease.

The optical function layer 50 may include a lens layer. The lens layermay increase light output efficiency of light emitted from the displaypanel 10 or may decrease color deviation. The lens layer may include alayer having a concave or convex lens shape and/or may include aplurality of layers having different refractive indexes from each other.The optical function layer 50 may include both of thereflection-preventing layer and the lens layer described above, or mayinclude either of them.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, theoptical function layer 50 may be formed consecutively after a process ofconning the display panel 10 andior the input sensing layer 40. In thiscase, no adhesive layer may be disposed between the optical functionlayer 50 and the display panel 10 and/or the input sensing layer 40.

The display panel 10, the input sensing layer 40 and/or the opticalfunction layer 50 may include an opening. In this regard, FIG. 23A showsthe display panel 10, the input sensing layer 40, and the opticalfunction layer 50 respectively including first to third openings tort40H, and 50H overlapping one another. The first to third openings 10H,40H, and 50H may correspond to the opening area OA. According to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, one or more from amongthe display panel 10, the input sensing layer 40, and the opticalfunction layer 50 may include no opening. For example, one or twocomponents selected among the display panel 10, the input sensing layer40, and the optical function layer 50 may include no opening.Alternatively, none of the display panel. 10, the input sensing layer40, and the optical function layer 50 may include an opening asillustrated in FIG. 23B.

As described above, the opening area OA may be a component area forexample, a sensor a camera area, a speaker area, which a component 20for adding various functions to the display apparatus 1 is located. Asillustrated in FIG. 23A, the component 20 may be located in the first tothird openings 10H, 40H, and 50H. Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG.23B, the component 20 may be arranged below the display panel 10.

The component 20 may include an electronic element. For example, thecomponent 20 may be an electronic element transmitting and/or receivinglight or transmitting and/or receiving sound. For example, theelectronic element may include a sensor, such as an infrared sensor,outputting and/or receiving light, a camera receiving light to capturean image, a sensor outputting and sensing light or sound to measure adistance or recognize a fingerprint, a small lamp outputting light, aspeaker outputting sound, etc. The electronic element using light mayuse light in various wavelength ranges, such as visible light, infraredlight, Ultraviolet light, etc. According to some exemplary embodimentsof the present disclosure, the opening area OA may be a transmissionarea capable of transmitting light and/or sound output from thecomponent 20 to the outside or travelling from the outside toward theelectronic element.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, when thedisplay apparatus 1 is used as a smartwatch or a vehicle-use dashboard,the component 20 may be an element such as clock hands or a needleindicating certain information (for example, a vehicle speed, etc.).When the display apparatus 1 includes clock hands or a vehicle-usedashboard, the component 20 may be externally exposed through the window60, and the window 60 may include an opening corresponding to theopening area OA.

As described above, the component 20 may include a component(components) related to a function of the display panel 10, or mayinclude a component such as accessories increasing aesthetic sense ofthe display panel 10. The optical clear adhesive, etc. may be locatedbetween the window 60 and the optical function layer 50.

FIGS. 24A to 24D are cross-sectional views schematically illustratingthe display panel 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

Referring to FIG. 24A, the display panel 10 includes a display layer 400arranged on a substrate 100. The display layer 400 may include layersbetween the substrate 100 and a thin film encapsulation layer 500.

The substrate 100 may include glass or polymer resin. The substrate 100may include various materials having flexible or bendablecharacteristics. When the substrate 100 includes polymer resin, thesubstrate 100 may have a multilayer structure. For example, asillustrated in an enlarged view of FIG. 24A, the substrate 100 mayinclude a first base layer 101, a first barrier layer 102, a second baselayer 103, and a second harrier layer 104.

The first base layer 101 and the second base layer 103 may each includepolymer resin. For example, the first base layer 101 and the second baselayer 103 may include polymer resin such as such as polyethersulfone(PES) polyarylate (PAR), polyetherimide (PEI), polyethylene naphthalate(PEN), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS),polyimide (PI), polycarbonate (PC), cellulose triacetate (TAC),cellulose acetate propionate (CAP), etc. The first base layer 101 andthe second base layer 103 may include transparent polymer resin.

The first barrier layer 102 and the second barrier layer 104, which arebarrier layers preventing permeation of an external foreign material,may have a single-layer or multilayer structure including an inorganicmaterial such as silicon nitride, silicon oxide, etc.

The display layer 400 includes a plurality of pixels. The display layer400 may include a display element layer 400A including display element sarranged for each pixel and a pixel circuit layer 400B including a pixelcircuit arranged for each pixel and insulating layers. Each pixelcircuit may include a transistor and a storage capacitor, and eachdisplay element may include the organic light-emitting diode OLED.

Display elements of the display layer 400 may be covered by anencapsulation member such as the thin film encapsulation layer 500, andthe thin film encapsulation layer 500 may include at least one inorganicencapsulation layer and at least one organic encapsulation layer. Whenthe display panel 10 includes the substrate 100 including polymer resinand the thin film encapsulation layer 500 including an inorganicencapsulation layer and an organic encapsulation layer, flexibility ofthe display panel 10 may increase.

The display panel 10 may include the first opening 10H through thedisplay panel 10, The first opening 1011 may be located in the openingarea OA. FIG. 24A illustrates the substrate 100 and the thin filmencapsulation layer 500 respectively including through holes 100H and500H corresponding to the first opening ION of the display panel 10. Thedisplay layer 400 may also include a through hole 40011 corresponding tothe opening area OA.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, asillustrated in FIG. 24B, the substrate 100 might not include a throughhole corresponding to the opening area OA. The display layer 400 mayinclude the through hole 4001 corresponding to the opening area OA. Thethin film encapsulation layer 500 might not include a through holecorresponding to the opening area OA. According to an exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure, as illustrated in FIG. 24C, thedisplay layer 400 might not include the through hole 400:11corresponding to the opening area OA, and the display element layer 400Ais not located in the opening area OA.

Although FIGS. 24A to 24C illustrate the display element layer 400A notlocated in the opening area OA, the present invention is not limitedthereto. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure,as illustrated in FIG. 241), an auxiliary display element layer 400C maybe located in the opening area OA. The auxiliary display element layer400C may include display elements operating in a different structureand/or a different manner from the display elements of the displayelement layer 400A.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, eachpixel of the display element layer 400A may include an active organiclight-emitting diode, and the auxiliary display element layer 400C mayinclude pixels each including a passive organic light-emitting diode.When the auxiliary display element layer 400C includes a display elementof the passive organic light-emitting diode, elements of the pixelcircuit might not be present under the corresponding passive organiclight-emitting diode. For example, a portion of the pixel circuit layer400B under the auxiliary display element layer 400C may include neitherof the transistor and the storage capacitor.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, theauxiliary display element layer 400C may include a display element ofthe same type as the display element layer 400A (for example, an activeorganic light-emitting diode), whereas a structure of the pixel circuitbelow may be different from each other. For example, a pixel circuitunder the auxiliary display element layer 400C (for example, a pixelcircuit having a lightproof film between a substrate and a transistor)may include a different structure from a pixel circuit under the displayelement layer 400A. Alternatively, display elements of the auxiliarydisplay element layer 400C may operate according to a different controlsignal from the display elements of the display element layer 400A. Acomponent that does not require a relatively high transmittance (forexample, an infrared sensor) may be arranged in the opening area OA inwhich the auxiliary element device layer 400C is arranged. In this case,the opening area OA may be a component area and an auxiliary displayarea.

FIGS. 25A to 25D are cross-sectional views schematically illustrating adisplay panel 10′ according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure. While the display panel 10 described above with reference toFIGS. 24A to 24D includes the thin film encapsulation layer 500, thedisplay panel 10′ of FIGS. 25A to 25D may include a sealant 540 of anencapsulation substrate 500A.

As illustrated in FIGS. 25A to 250, one or more from among the substrate100, the display layer 400, and the encapsulation substrate 500A mayinclude through holes 100H, 400H, and 500AH corresponding to the openingarea OA. In the opening, area OA, the display element layer 400A mightnot, be arranged or the auxiliary display element layer 400C may bearranged as illustrated in FIG. 25D. The auxiliary display element layer400C is the same as described above with reference to FIG. 241.

The first connecting lines 210 according to one or more embodiments mayhave various shapes preventing diagonal spots due to couplingcapacitance (parasitic capacitance) with the scan line St, from beingvisible and reducing wire RC. The first connecting lines 210 may havevarious shapes in which a portion extending in the first direction D1, aportion extending in the second direction D2, and a portion extending inthe diagonal direction are mixed. A portion of the first connectinglines 210 extending in the diagonal direction may have a zigzag shape(FIG. 10, FIG. 16) having a first sub-portion and a second sub-portionrepeated or a linear shape (FIG. 15A, FIG. 15B).

According to one or more exemplary embodiments of the presentdisclosure, the first connecting line 210 may extend such that a firstsub-portion is n times as long as the first length and a secondsub-portion is n times as long as the second length. In this regard, nis an integer equal to or greater than 1 (e.g. a positive integer).According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, in thefirst connecting line 210, a first sub-portion may have the first lengthand a second sub-portion may have the second length. According to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, in the first connectingline 210, a first sub-portion may be twice or more as long as the firstlength and a second sub-portion may be twice or more as long as thesecond length. According to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure, some of first sub-portions of the first connecting line 210may have the first length, and the others may be twice or more as longas the first length. In addition, some of second sub-portions of thefirst connecting line 210 may have the second length, and the others maybe twice or more as long as the second length.

According to one or more exemplary embodiments of the presentdisclosure, first sub-portions of an adjacent pair of first connectinglines 210 may be spaced apart from each other by n times of the secondlength. Second sub-portions of the adjacent pair of first connectinglines 210 may be spaced apart from each other by n times of the firstlength.

A structure of the first connecting line 210, according to one orexemplary more embodiments of the present disclosure, is not limited tothe above-described display apparatus and may be applied to a displayapparatus, such as a smanwatch or a vehicle-use dashboard, in which theedge of a display area has at least one round corner.

According to one or more exemplary embodiments of the presentdisclosure, a display apparatus in which a dead space of the displayapparatus may decrease due to connecting lines of a display area andthus a data signal may be stably transmitted to a pixel without a risein manufacturing cost may be provided. However, one or more embodimentsdescribed herein are not limited by such an effect.

It should be understood that exemplary embodiments of the presentdisclosure described herein should be considered in a descriptive.Descriptions of features or aspects within each embodiment shouldtypically be considered as available for other similar features oraspects in other embodiments. While one or more embodiments have beendescribed with reference to the figures, it will be understood by thoseof ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and detailsmay be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of thepresent disclosure

What is claimed is:
 1. A display apparatus comprising: a substratecomprising a display area and a peripheral area at least partiallysurrounding the display area, wherein a corner of an edge of the displayarea is curved, and wherein the peripheral area comprises a pad area; adata line disposed in the display area; and a first connecting linedisposed in the display area and connected to the data line, the firstconnection line transmitting a signal from the pad area to the dataline, wherein the display area comprises a dummy area adjacent to aboundary between the display area and the peripheral area, wherein thefirst connecting line comprises a first portion, extending from the edgeof the display area in a direction away from the peripheral area, and asecond portion bent with respect to the first portion and extendingtowards the corner of the edge of the display area, wherein the secondportion is connected to the data line in the dummy area.
 2. The displayapparatus of claim 1, wherein, in the first connecting line, the firstportion and the second portion extend in a direction inclined withrespect to a first direction in which the data line extends.
 3. Thedisplay apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first portion and the secondportion of the first connecting line extend in a zigzag shape.
 4. Thedisplay apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first portion and the secondportion of the first cot fleeting line extend linearly.
 5. The displayapparatus of claim 1, wherein the data line and the first connectingline are on different layers from each other.
 6. The display apparatusof claim 1, wherein the first connecting line further comprises a thirdportion extending in a first direction in which the data line extendsand/or a fourth portion extending in a second direction perpendicular tothe first direction.
 7. The display apparatus of claim 1, furthercomprising a second connecting line disposed in the peripheral area andcomprising a first end connected to the first portion of the firstconnecting line and a second end disposed in the pad area.
 8. A displayapparatus comprising: a substrate comprising a display area and aperipheral area at least partially surrounding the display area, whereina corner of an edge of the display area is curved, and wherein theperipheral area comprises a pad area; a plurality of scan lines disposedin the display area and each scan line of the plurality of scan linesextending in a first direction; a plurality of first data lines disposedin the display area and each first data line of the plurality of firstdata lines extending in a second direction perpendicular to the firstdirection; and a plurality of first connecting lines disposed in thedisplay area and connected to the plurality of first data lines totransmit a signal from the pad area to the plurality of first datalines, wherein each of the plurality of first connecting lines comprisesa first portion, extending from the edge of the display area in adirection away from the peripheral area, and a second portion bent fromthe first portion and extending towards the corner of the edge of thedisplay area, Wherein each of the first portion and the second portionalternates between a first sub-portion extending parallel to at leastone of the plurality of scan lines and a second sub-portion extendingparallel to at least one of the plurality of first data lines.
 9. Thedisplay apparatus of claim 8, wherein, in each of the plurality of firstconnecting lines, the first portion and the second portion extend in adirection inclined with respect to the first direction while alternatingbetween the first sub-portion and the second sub-portion.
 10. Thedisplay apparatus of claim 8, wherein the plurality of first connectinglines are on a different layer from the plurality of scan lines.
 11. Thedisplay apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first sub-portion at leastpartially overlaps the at least one scan line.
 12. The display apparatusof claim 8, wherein the plurality of first connecting lines are on adifferent layer from the plurality of first data lines.
 13. The displayapparatus of claim 12, wherein the second sub-portion at least partiallyoverlaps the at least one first data line.
 14. The display apparatus ofclaim 8, wherein the first sub-portion has a length that is n times(where n is a positive integer) as much as a first length correspondingto a distance between two adjacent first data lines, and the secondsub-portion has a length that is m times (where m is a positive integer)as much as a second length corresponding, to a distance between twoadjacent scan lines.
 15. The display apparatus of claim 8, wherein thefirst sub-portions of adjacent first connecting lines are spaced apartfrom each other by a length that is n times (where n is a positiveinteger) as much as a second length corresponding to a distance betweentwo adjacent scan lines, and the second sub-portions of the adjacentfirst connecting lines are spaced apart from each other by a length thatis in times (where m is a positive integer) as much as a first lengthcorresponding to a distance between two adjacent first data lines. 16.The display apparatus of claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of firstconnecting lines further comprises a third portion connected to thefirst portion and extending linearly in the first direction and a fourthportion connected to the second portion and extending linearly in thefirst direction.
 17. The display apparatus of claim 16, wherein each ofthe plurality of first connecting lines further comprises a fifthportion disposed between the first portion and the second portion andextending linearly in the first direction.
 18. The display apparatus ofclaim 8, wherein the display area comprises a dummy area adjacent to aboundary between the display area and the peripheral area, wherein thesecond portion is connected to one of the plurality of first data linesin the dummy area disposed at the corner of the edge of the displayarea.
 19. The display apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a secondconnecting line disposed in the peripheral area and comprising a firstend connected to the first portion of each of the plurality of firstconnecting lines and a second end disposed in the pad area.
 20. Thedisplay apparatus of claim 8, further comprising: a plurality of seconddata lines disposed in the display area and each extending in the seconddirection; and a third connecting line disposed in the peripheral areaand comprising a first end connected to one of the plurality of seconddata lines and a second end disposed in the pad area.